A Christian library, or, A pleasant and plentiful paradise of practical divinity in 37 treatises of sundry and select subjects ... / by R. Younge ...

CHAP. LVI.

BUt seventhly, there is another sort worse then these, viz. Such as are not only strangers unto mercy, but are opposites & enemies to it, walking in a quite contrary way. These do not feed the poor, but they flay them; they do not clothe them, but they strip them; they make not any provision for them, but cast how utterly to ruine, and un∣do them; instead of healing them, they wound them; instead of relieving, they rob and oppress them; and instead of being to them any ease and comfort, they lay upon them heavy burthens and pressures. These Hammons, hanging is too good for them; for if all those shall be bid, Depart ye cur∣sed,

that have not given to Christ's poor members, What wil become of thee that hast taken away from them? that hast beaten the poor to pieces, and ground their faces? that hast not onely eat∣en up the Vineyard, but keepest the spoil of the poor in thine house, as the Prophet Isaiah com∣plains, Isa. 3.14, 15. If the Levite bee so severely censured for not helping the distressed man, Luk. 10.30. &c. What wil be thy portion and punish∣ment, that hast rob'd him, and hast dealt with him as the cunning Fowler deals with the poore birds; who sets his limed ears of Corn, to catch them in an hard Frost, or great Snow, when they be ready to starve.

Dives did but deny to give his own, thou hast taken away other mens. Now if he (saith Austin) be tormented in endless flames, that gives not his own goods to them that need, that gives not meat to the hungry, clothes to the naked, that takes not the stranger into his house, that visits not his bre∣thren when they are in prison, as it is Matth. 25.41. &c. What shall become of him that takes a∣way other mens, that robs the poore, turns them out of their own houses, and casts them in∣to prison? O remember I beseech you, if that ser∣vant in the Gospel was bound to an everlasting pri∣son, that onely challenged his own debt, for that he had not pity on his fellow, as his Master had pity on him, whither shal they be cast that unjust∣ly vex their neighbours, quarrel for that which is none of theirs, and lay title to another mans pro∣priety?

When the Prophet that was slain by a Lyon (though an holy man) buies so dearly such a slight frailty, of a credulous mistaking: what shall become of hainous and presumptuous sinners?

Christians should be like Christ: but how unlike to him are these men? Christ made himself poor to make them rich: but they make many poor to make themselves rich: yea, they sink others eies into their heads with leanness, while their own eies start out with fatness: and to fill the other bag they will pare a poor man to the very bones.

Again, many men be unreprovable, and yet rejected: alas, what then shall become of our gluttony, drunkenness, pride, oppression, bribery, cozena∣ges, adulteries, blasphemies, and of our selves for them? If he shall have judgment without mercy that shews not mercy; what shall become of subtraction and rapine,, Psal. 109.11. Do'st thou not know, that with what measure thou metest to others here, God will measure to thee again hereafter? Mat. 7.2. And were it not better then, to prevent a mischief before, then repent you did not when 'tis too late? O that thou wouldst but fore-think, what thy Covetousness will one day cost thee. As how will it one day grieve these griping Ingros∣sers, and Oppressors? when they shall receive a multiplicity of torments, according to the multiplici∣ty o•• their cruel and unconscionable deeds? and to the number also of their abused benefits. They will then wish, that they had not done so ill, nor fared so well upon earth; that they might have fared less ill in Hell. For if for one sin at the first, God plagued a world of men; how will he plague one man for a world of sin?

Consider but these things, thou cruel and un∣merciful rich man, and thou canst not choose but tremble. If then they be so terrible to hear, what will it be everlastingly to feel them? If so intol∣lerable to be felt and endured; be accordingly careful, that thou mayest never feel nor endure them: Thou art taking a Voyage to this Kingdom of darknesse, and art near upon arriving; it were hap∣py if thou wouldst return, before thou art at thy journeys end. And certainly, didst thou but know the place, and thy entertainment when thou co∣mest there; thou wouldst be bound for heaven, steer thy course thitherward, and fraught thy self accor∣dingly. You know, or may know, what a rich and brave place Heaven is; the Pavement is of Gold, the Walls of Iasper, garnished with all manner of precious stones, the Gates of Pearl, &c. Revel. 21. & 22. chap. For I should but disparage it, by seeking to describe it. But